Health @ TuxfordPlease see bottom of page for information on the Covid Booster.
Flu Information
As expected, due to the coronavirus pandemic this years flu vaccination programme will be delivered in a very different way than in previous years. Restrictions with social distancing mean that we will be unable to hold the normal mass vaccination / open appointment sessions that we have in the past.
To help things run as smoothly as possible we wanted to share how we plan to deliver flu vaccinations this year.
Details about specific cohorts of patients are below – but the main points are:
- All vaccinations will be done by appointment only.
- We will contact eligible patients – either with an allotted appointment time, or with an invitation to make an appointment.
- We do appreciate that the appointment time we initially give you may not suit – you are welcome to change it by calling us or sending us a message on our website.
- When you attend for your appointment please do not enter the building more than 5 minutes before your appointment time. If you are early please wait outside!
- Please arrive as close to your appointment time as possible – our car parking is very limited.
- Please ensure you wear a face mask when you are in the building.
- After you have had your vaccination you will be directed to leave the building via the backdoor. This is to help us keep a circular flow of patients and maintain social distancing.
Patients are given 1 of 3 different types of flu vaccine – mainly depending on age. There is more information about the vaccines here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine
How we run our vaccination clinics depends on when we receive each vaccine from the manufactures.
Children aged 2 and 3
This part of the flu programme is already underway. Your child will be eligible if they are born between 01/09/2017 and 31/08/2019. The vaccine is a nasal spray, and we have already received our first stock of this vaccine. Parents have been sent text messages inviting them to book an appointment – the first of which have already happened. If you have not received a text message please contact us to make an appointment.
School aged children
As in previous years this cohort of patients will be vaccinated in their school. As soon as we have further information about when the community service is visiting each school we will publicise that information.
All patients aged 65 and over
This is our largest cohort of patients to vaccinate. The vaccine is different to the under 65 vaccines, and contains an adjuvant to help the immune system have a stronger response to the vaccine. This vaccine is being delivered from late September, and in bulk deliveries – so we will be able to vaccinate lots of these patients earlier in the flu season.
Patients under 65 ‘at risk’
If you have a long term condition such as Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke or certain respiratory diseases you will be eligible for vaccination. This vaccine is being delivered from late September, and in bulk deliveries – so we will be able to vaccinate lots of these patients earlier in the flu season.
Patients aged 50 to 64 not ‘at risk’
As happened last year NHS England is directing practices to vaccinate all patients in this age group. The vaccine is the same as the ‘at risk’ category above – but we are being directed to only start vaccinating this cohort of patients after ‘at risk’ patients have been vaccinated.
How will I be contacted?
We know that a large proportion of our patients use AskMyGP, and respond to text messages. However – we also appreciate that not all patients do. We will try to contact each patient in the most appropriate way, depending on how they contact us.
For example, patients who do use AskMyGP will receive an e-mail and text message, but patients who don’t use AskMyGP might receive a letter in the post. Any patients whom we have a mobile phone number for will receive appointment booking information and reminders by text message. This may be received before you get any other communication from us.
Will the building be open?
Yes – our front door is open as usual. However – please ensure that you are wearing a face mask when you enter. This is to minimise the risk of infecting either our staff, or other vulnerable patients, with coronavirus.
How else can I help to make things run smoothly?
Please try to wear clothing that allows your arm to be easily accessible.
If you do need to contact us, for example to change your appointment time – please appreciate that first thing in the morning is our busiest time – so calling later in the day helps us greatly.
Covid Booster Information
Patients are eligible for their Covid Booster vaccination from 6 months (180 days) after their second Covid vaccination. As there was a 12 week wait between first and second vaccinations very few patients will be eligible for the Covid Booster until October 2021.
As a practice we are in the planning stages to (hopefully) deliver Covid Booster vaccinations for our patients from our own surgery premises. These plans will need approving by locally before we can proceed. As soon as we have more details we will be in touch, and hopefully booking patients as they become eligible.
Finally…
We hope that everything runs smoothly – but from previous experience – unfortunately hiccups do happen from time to time, such as last minute changes in delivery schedule.
If you have changed your mobile phone number please ensure we have it
We will share information as quickly as possible via our website and social media, then by text message. Please follow our Facebook page to get updates quickly.